Clothes-drier.



No. 774,379. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904. T. P. CAVANAUGH.

CLOTHES DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED Jun 18. 1904.

no MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

10i muses PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

T. P. GAVANAUGH.

CLOTHES DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1904.

2 SHEETS-min .2.

NO MODEL.

(In-wanton UNITED STATES- Patented November 8, 1904:.

PATENT OF ICE.

CLOTHES-DRIER.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 774,379, dated November 8, 1904.

Application filed June 18 1904. Serial N0. 213,l23- (N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, TERRENOE P. CAVANAUGH,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of To this end the invention consists in the de vice described below in general and in detail, and illustrated in the drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of this clothesdrier in use. Fig. II is an enlarged detail of one of the feet. Fig. III is a vertical section of the entire device, showing how it may be used to support an awning. Fig. IV is a detail of the drum-shaft. Fig. V is a detail of the Windlass. Fig. VI is a detail of a modified frame.

The numerals 1 designate uprights, preferably a series of four, located near the corners of a small yard, such as the back yard of a city residence. These uprights preferably rise to about the height of the house and at their upper ends are connected by horizontal members 2; By preference this framework is of metal tubing, and its members are con nected by T-joints or elbows. By preference the uprights at their lower ends are screwed into socket-pieces 3, which fit over pegs 4, driven into the ground, and may be bolted thereto. as at 5, and jam-nuts 6 may be employed to prevent the uprights from disengaging the socket-pieces. Braces 7 may extend from this framework to the building or elsewhere if it is desired to give the structure greater stability. Mounted on these uprights are a number of frames 10, which may have eyes 11 in their corners loosely embracing the uprights or may simply pass around the latter. The number of these frames will depend upon the height of the framework, and they are connected with each other at distances of about five feet apart vertically by chains 12,

' each chain preferably leading from one frame around the next and back to a hook 13, which is engaged into one of its own links, so that adjustment of the distance between the frames is possible. lVithin each frame is located a number of stiff horizontal rods 14, upon which the clothes'are to be hung, to which end these rods should be galvanized to prevent rusting. Each rod has eyes 15 at its ends which loosely embrace the opposite sides of the frame.

16 designates stops which are preferably v collars surrounding the uprights and having set-screws 17, whereby they may be adjusted to any desired height on the uprights. When not in use, thesestops are allowed to fall and rest upon the jam-nuts 6. One use which may be made of them is best seen in Fig. IILwhere the lowermost frame is held by the stops at a point somewhat above the tallest persons head. A sheet 19 of fabric, as canvas, is laid over this frame and its rods to form an awning for the yard. The next higher frame and its rods are allowed to drop onto this sheet to hold it from blowing away, and still higher frames may at the same time be holding the wash for drying. The raising mechanism for this set of frames may be of any approved type; but I prefer that herein shown. On the front and rear cross-bars 2 are mounted idle pulleys 20. If the bars are of metal pipe, the hubs of these pulleys may be passed directly onto the pipe. The side cross-bars carry bearings 21, in which is journaled a shaft 23, extending across the yard, preferably at about the center of the framework. To this shaft are fixed two double drums 24:, and from each drum lead two ropes 25, passing thence in opposite directions over the idle pulleys and connected with the uppermost frame.

26 is a sprocket-wheel on one end of the shaft.

27 is a Windlass secured to a post or the fence.

28 is a chain connecting the sprocket-wheel and Windlass, and 29 is a pawl or hook to check the rotation of the Windlass when desired.

When this device is not in use, all of the frames may be drawn up into the air, so that the lowermost will stand above the tallest persons head, or all of them may be let down to the ground and all of the cross-rods pushed out of the way. \Vhen in use, the rods in the uppermost frame will be separated as necessary, this frame raised to a point within convenient reach of the-domestic, the rods are hung full of clothes, which may be fastened thereon with pins, and then the entire frame raised farther, so that the next frame and its rods come into position for use, the chains being adjusted, if found necessary. In this way a number of frames and a large amount of clothing can be employed in a single yard of comparatively small area.

What is claimed as new is 1. The herein-described clothes-drier, consisting of a series of uprights connected at their upper ends by cross-bars, braces leading from the latter to a fixed object, four idle pulleys journaled on said braces, a shaft mounted in bearings on the side rods, means for rotating this shaft from the ground, and two double drums on the shaft; combined with a series of frames surrounding and movable vertically on the uprights, clothes-supporting devices within each frame, chains connecting each frame with the next adjacent, each chain passing around one frame and having a hook engaging one of its own links, and ropes leading from the uppermost frame over said idle pulleys to the drums, all as and for the purposeset forth.

2. The herein-described clothes-drier, consisting of a series of uprights connected at their upper ends by cross-bars, braces leading from the latter to a fixed object, four idle pulleys journaled on said braces, a shaft mounted in hearings on the side rods, means for rotating this shaft from the ground, and two double drums on the shaft; combined with a series of frames having eyes in their corners surrounding and movable vertically on the uprights, clothes-supporting devices within each frame, flexible and adjustable connections between the frames, and ropes leading from the uppermost frame over said idle pulleys to the drums, all as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a clothes-drier, a series of pegs driven in the ground, a socket-piece fitting over each peg, a transverse bolt through this piece and peg, an upright screwed into the socket-piece, and a jam nut on the upright against the socket; combined with a series of frames movable vertically on said uprights, flexible and adjustable connections between the frames, means for raising and lowering them, and in each frame a series of stiff cross-rods with eyes at their extremities slidable in the frame, all as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a device of the character described, a series of uprights, a plurality of frames movable vertically thereon and each having crossbars, and flexible connections between them; combined with stops adjustable on the various uprights for supporting the lowermost frame, and a fabric sheet laid over this frame and its cross-bars and held in place by the frame above, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this the l6th day of June, A. D. 1904.

TERRENGE P. CAVANAUGH.

WVitnesses:

GEORGE M. JoHNs, EDWARD W. MEREDITH. 

